Means for handling material



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MEANS FOR HANDLING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 3, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 jnwni or 5601 96 Z. zlrner.

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Patented Jan. 29, 1952 MEANS FOR HANDLING MATERIAL George L. Turner, Battle Creek, Mich., assignor to Clark Equipment Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January ,3, 1947, Serial No. 719,969

My invention pertains to means for handling material, particularly material which is of such shape as to permit it to be tiered for storage or shipment.

The handling of material in quantities, particularly if the material is heavy, or bulky, has required manufacturers, warehousers and shippers to employ industrial lift trucks, in order to reduce the labor required and the costs of handling the material. In my copending application, Serial No. 717,769, filed December 21, 1946, I have illustrated and describeda new method of handling material, particularly material in package form, such as boxes, bags, and layers of sheet material bound together, all of which may be classified as rectangular solids and which is easily stacked. Also, disclosed in said application is a novel form of pallet employed in making up a unit load of packages. My present invention is directed to an improved form of industrial truck which may be useful in carrying out the process illustrated in said copending application. It is an advantage of my invention that the mechanism, which I shall presently describe at length, may be added to existing forms of industrial lift trucks, so that they may be employed in practicing my improved method of handling material. An additional advantage is that themechanism is simple and compact and is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is an object of my invention to provide mechanism which will engage a load by some traction portion of the load or attachment to the load to draw it on a load supporting platen for transportation to another location. The traction portion may be a part of the load itself, which, when engaged, will draw the rest of the load with it or may consist of ears or flaps connected to the load, or may be the margin of a loaded pallet or a projecting ear or" such a pallet.

It is another object of my invention to provide means which may serve to discharge a load and its pallet at a desired location and at a desired level. The mechanism, proposed additionally serves as a means for picking a load off of previously stacked loads of packages without disarranging the lower loads.

. Another object is to provide an improved form of, clamping means which is particularly advantageous in gripping sheet-like pallets.

Other objects, uses and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is. a sideqelevational yiew of an in- 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-113) Company, Buchanan,

dustrial truck embodying the mechanism of my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the truck shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation on enlarged scale of the load engaging means of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the load engaging means of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view on enlarged scale of a modified form of load engaging means Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the load engaging means ofv Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of the industrial truck approaching a load;

Figure 9 shows the position of the industrial truck with respect to the load just prior to drawing the load on to the supporting carriage;

Figure 10 illustrates the manner in which the load is drawn on to the load bearing platen of the industrial truck; V

Figure 11 illustrates a load upon the supporting platen and carriage of the truck prior to its discharge from the platen; and

Figure 12' illustrates the manner in which a load may be drawn from the top of a stack of unit loads on to the supporting platen and carriage of the truck. Like reference numerals have been employed in the several views to indicate the same or similar elements and arrows indicate the direction of movement of bodies or thedirection of the application of force thereto.

To give a general, over-all view of the invention, the present machine provides a mechanism capable of performing, under the guidance and control of the operator, the desired functions of picking up, transporting and discharging a load, particularly where such load is disposed upon a sheetlike or platelike pallet, such as a sheet of paper or the like. The pallet is preferably flexible, but that is not essential. Corrugated paper cardboard, paperboard, fiber, cloth, plastic, metal or any combination of such materials suitable to resist tension, and the abrasive action of sliding of the same on supporting surfaces, may be utilized. Preferably the load on the pallet allows a margin of the pallet to project, so that it may be suitably exposed for gripping to serve as a traction member by which the pallet and its load may be pulled along the supporting surface and the frame, and for opening and closing the jaws.

Preferably only one jaw is movable, the stationary.

jaw bein generally rigid with the frame.

The operating motion forthe movable gripping jaw is secured preferably through amech'anism coupling the connecting rod with the frame through a lost motion connection. The initial .3

f rotatably secured to'the transverse shaft 26. The resulting rotation of shaft 26 will rotate the actumotion of pulling on the connecting rod applies the grippin force upon the jaw and the reactionof the gripping force may be applied to the pusher frame in its mounting. In order to insurethat the gripping force on the jaw is adequate, the resistance of the'pushe'r frame todisplacement in its carriage may be controlled by imposing a predeterminedresistance to such displacement as by a, suitable brake. The reverse operation of opening the jaws may be controlled in the same or like manner, so as to assure positive opening movement and positive open position of the jaw when itis desired to secure that action or that position. If desired; the bite of the jaws may be limited by springs or other yieldable means.

While I show the jaw as operable by the same motor member as that which operates the pusher frame, this is only the preferred and not necessarily the only mechanism which I may use. I contemplate employing a separate reciprocable fluid pressure motor for opening and closing the jaws under-manual control, so that the two actions, 1. e., gripping or ungrippin'g of the pallet traction member and pushing or pulling onthe frame are not interconnected-r Also, instead of an automatic brake on the guides to control resistan'ceto movement, I may use a hand controlledor variable brake to vary the degree of gripping force applied.

Referring now'in detail to the drawings, in Fig' ures '1 and 2 there isindicated generally anin dustrial truck Ill having drive wheels I 2 supported from the frame of the truck i0 and having steer= ing mechanism l4 for guiding the vehicle. The uprights Hi'mounted at the forward end of the truck Ill may comprise telescoping masts of'a con= ventional design. Mounted for vertical movement in the masts I6 is a load supporting carriage indicated generally by the reference numeral it. The carriage l8 maybe raised or lowered relative to the uprights by a conventional type of hydrauliclift mechanism or in any other suitable manner. The load supporting carriage i 8 is tiltable forwardly orbackwardlywith the uprights i5, so that the platen of the load supporting carriage 18 may be inclined downwardly to bring its forward edge against the ground or other sup porting surface in approaching a load or may have its front end tilted upwardly in order that the platenmay clear irregularities in the ground or an incline which the truck'is required to as= cend, and in order to tilt a load back'against the back of the carriage for more secure support'of the load while travelling. Platen 20 diminishes inthickness toward its forward end and it is secured at its rear end to side frame members 22 on either side of the truck l0, said frame-members beinginterconnected by a transverse plate 24.--' -At their upper ends the frame members 22 carry journals 23 for receiving a. cross shaft 26 which extends from one side of the load supporting car-. riage IE to the other. Secured against rotation to the transverse shaft 26, outwardly of the frame members 22, are a pair of crank arms 28. Also secured against rotation to the shaft 26 but'in- ,wardly' of the journal boxes 23 are a pair of short crank arms 30, thereby providing a double bellcrank lever. Pivotally connected with each crank arm 30 is a piston rod 32 which extends into a ,hydrauliccylinder 34. Each cylinder 34 is pivotally connected to a flange 36 extendingrearward- 1y" of the transverse plate 24 of carriage i8. Actuation of 'the'pis'tons by fluid pressure applied un- "de'r m'anu'ally operated controls (not shown) will cause'movernent of: crank arms 38 which are nonating crank arms 28 which are also non-rotatably connected with said shaft. Crank arms 28 at-their lower ends are pivotally connected with rods 38.

A load engaging mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 39, is supported from the side frame members 22 of-load supporting carriage l8 by bars 40 which telescope within horizontally extensible channel members 42, in turn carried *in the channel members 44 each of which is secured to aside frame member 22. Bars 48 may be welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to a vertically extending backing frame 46 having vertical struts 48 interconnecting the top 50 of frame 46 with a sill member 52. Supported from sill 52 by a series of L-shaped brackets 54 is a clamping device indicated generally by the 'numeral 56. The clamping device will be described in :greater detail below. The load engaging mechanism 39 comprising the frame 46 and clamping member 56 is movable across the platen 253 of load supporting carriage it guided by the telescoping bars 40 and channel members 42 which are carried in channel members 44.

Rods 38 pivotally connected with the actuating crank arms 28 at their one ends are pivotally con nected at their other-ends bypins 51' to arms 58 of'bell'cranks (ill (see Figures 3 and 4). Arm 58 are non-rotatably secured to pins 62, as are arms 64,-and therefore said arms, together with the pins 62, which are carried in fianges 66 on opposite sides of vertical backing fram 46, constitute bell cranks E0. The other end of each arm 54 is pivotally connected by apin 68 between the arms of a'clevis it! which has a centrally threaded passageway 72. The threaded end 14 of connecting rod 16 is secured in the threaded passageway #2. At the lower end of rod 16 is a clevis which has a pivotal connection by means of pin E3 with a lug 859 which is welded, or-otherwis secured, to the upper movable jaw 82 of the clamping device 56. The jaw 82 has a hinged connection, as at 84. Lower jaw-86 is secured to the lower end of theL-shaped brackets 54, as by welding, or other suitable-means, and the pair of jawsS-Z and 8E openfand-close byvirtue ofmovement of jaw 82 upwardly and downwardly with respect to the fixed jaw 86. Acentral longitudinally extending groove 88 in the lower jaw BG-inay have a rubber insert 96 bonded thereto. A cooperating wire or bead 92 longitudinally extending on the under side of jaw 82 is adapted to seat in groove 88 against the insert 99 to provide a secure grip.

If desired, jaw might be formed of a resilient material, such as rubber, on its upper surface.

across the top surface of jaw 82 and is welded thereto.

It will be seen that when the rods 38, connected to the actuating crank arms 28, are moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, the arms 58 and 84 of bell crank 80 will be moved counterclock- Wise andwwill raise the connecting rod 18 and the clamping jaw 82 connected thereto. In order to insure that the, clamping jaw 82 will be raised, by movement of rod 38 to the right, before the movement of rod 38 shifts the load engaging means 39 to the right across th platen 20, friction means is provided between the telescoping members 40, 42 and 44. The friction member 31 positioned be: tween the channel member 44 and the telescoping channel member .42 comprises a spring loaded block 98 which is in housing 8'! and passes through an aperture in the channel member 44 and. engages the top surface of channel member 42. The spring pressure on friction member 31 may be increased or decreased by threading screw I08 downwardly or upwardly, respectively, through housing 81, so that the washer I02 secured to the screw I00 will compress or release the spring 98 which acts against the friction member 31. A lock nut I84 secures the screw I08 in its selected position. A transvers cover plate I 08 extending between and secured to the arms of channel member 42 houses a spring friction member I08, comprising a centrally deformed piece of flat spring metal, the sides of which rub against said plate I08 and the extension bar 40. Spring friction member I08 is secured against movement along with the extension bar 40 by reason of a pair of spaced apart flanges IIO which are secured to the plate I06. A grease fittin II2 secured in plate I08 permits the introduction of lubricant into the spring housing.

I he spring loaded friction element 31 acting against channel member 42 and spring I08 acting between the channel 42 and the extension bar 40 serve to retain the load engaging means 39 against movement in either direction until the clamping jaw 82 has been opened or closed, depending upon the direction of movement of the load engaging means 39, by movement of the rods 38. After the clamping jaws have been separated by movement of the rod 38 to the right, under the control of the operator of the lift truck, continued movement of rods 38 will then overcome the friction of the friction member acting on the telescoping bars 40 and channel members 42. Consequently, the load engaging means, including the clamping device 58, will be moved to the right across the platen 20. Then, when the rod 38 is moved to the left, as viewed in Figure 3, it will first crank the arms of bell crank 80 in a clockwise direction and thereby cause a down ward movement of the clamping jaw 82. The lost motion connection permit this. When the jaws82' and 86 ar closed, continued movement of the rod 38 to the left will overcome the friction between the extension bar 40 and channel members 42 and 44 and will draw the load engaging mechanism 38 and its clamping device 56 towards the left, or backwardly across the load supporting platen 20. This latter movement, is employed for drawing a load onto the platen while the forward movement, that is, to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, is employed for discharging a load from the platen 20,

Referring now to Figures 5, 8 and'l, a clamping member 58 having modified actuating mechanism connected between, it and the rods 38 will be described. .Wherethe elements of this. .mech-.

anism are the same as those illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the same reference numerals will be employed, and where there are pairs of similar elements on opposite sides of the truck, only the elements on oneside will be described. Each of the rods 38 has its end threaded into a socket 4| of a stub shaft 43 which carries a pin 51 at its other end. Pin 51 is adapted to move within a slot 59 in the flange 66 which is secured to the rear side of the frame member 48. This provides a lost motion connection to permit the jaw to be first actuated before the carriage moves. A pin 62 secured to flange 88 serves as a pivot point for the bell crank which has arms 58 and 84. Pin 51 on the stub shaft 43 engages not only slot 58 in the flange 88. but also a slot GI in the arm 58 of bell crank 60. The end of army 64 of bell crank 80 is pivotally connected with a clevis it by a pin 68, the clevis 10 being connected to a connecting rod 18 which carries a pin "I5 at its lower end. A sleeve 11 surrounds the connecting rod '18 and is secured, as by welding, at its lower end to a clevis 19. The clevis 19 is, in turn, connected by pin 18 with the lug 80 which is welded to the upper clamping jaw 82 of the clamping device 58. Positioned between the clevis 10 and the flanged end of sleeve H is a compression spring 8I which serves to press the sleeve ll downwardly along the connecting rod it, the sleeve being guided by a slot 83 which fits over the pin 15 of rod 18. It will be noted from Figure 7 that the connecting rod 18 and the sleeve ll pass through an aperture: 5| in the sill 52 of backing frame 48. Jaw member 82 I has a hinged connection, as at 84, with the L- shaped brackets 54 and is adapted to move toward and away from a lower jaw 88, depending upon the direction of movement of the rod 38. Jaw member 86 is secured as by welding to the L-shaped brackets 54. Jaw 88 has a longitudinally extending groove 88 in which a wire or head 92 on the movable jaw member 82 is adapted to seat. The platen 20 of the load supporting carriage i8 is securedto the side frame members 22 by a plurality of supporting ribs 85.

When rod 38 ismoved from its position, as shown in Figure 5, towards the right, the pin 51 is guided along in slot 59 of the flange 86 and simultaneously moves the bell crank 80 :in a counter-clockwise direction as the pin moves along in slot BI of arm 58 of said bell crank. Arm 84 of bell crank 60 therefore, pulls upwardly on the connecting rod 18 and pin 15 at the lower end of said rod strikes against the upper end of slot 83 and thereby draws the sleeve 11 upwardly with it. Since sleeve 11 is connected to the clevis I9 and thereby to the jaw 82, the movement of rod 38 to the right will separate the jaws 82 and 88. Continued movement of rod 38 to the right will cause the pin 51 of shaft 43 to strike end of slot 59, at which time the clamping device 58 is opened and the load engaging means 38 is pushed to the right across the platen 20. When it is desired to draw the load engaging means 39, including the clamping device 56. backwardly across the platen 20, that is, towards the left, as viewed in Figure 6, the rod 38 is drawn to the left and serves first to slide along the slot 59 of the flange 66 while simultaneously cranking the bell crank 60 in a clockwise direction to close jaw member 82 downwardly against the jaw 86. It will be seen that arm 84 of the bell crank 80 presses the clevis I0 against the compression spring 8I whichspring, lnturn, presses against haflanacd. en .9 the ee e, 1 and t e eb tangular shape.

7;: against the clamping jaw 82. I. The connecting rod 76, in the meantime, moves downwardly within the sleeve 11, but its pin I does not strike against the clevis. Consequently, the jaw 82 spring loaded against the jaw 86 and the spring 7 3i therefor-e serves as a pressure limiting device in actuating the jaws.

As previously pointed'out above, the foregoing.

mechanismis Well adapted to carry out the method of handling material described in my copending application, Serial No. -ll7,7 69, filed December 21, 1946. I shall now describethc manner in which this mechanism isemployed and for purposes of descriptionshall illustrate Reference should now be made to Figures 8.

through 11-. A load 12s of packages122, which are indicatedas rectangular solids, are stacked together to provide a-unit load of. generally rec- The load I28 of stacked packages is shownresting upon a sheetlike pallet 12ft which is preferably, of slightly smaller crosssectional area than the cross-sectional. area of the load I253, but which has an extending flap or ear I263. The flap I26 may comprise the margin of the sheetlike pallet I24, which margin is bent upwardly either during its manufacture or by operation of the clamping device 55 of the industrial truck IE1, as-explained hereinafter. The illustrated pallet I24 is formed of corrugated paperboard, but may be formed of other. material and with modified forms of margins or projecting cars, such as those illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 717,769, filed De cember 21, 1946. The unit load of packages-He and the pallet I23 are shown resting onxa floor and the industrial truck IE3 is shown as approaching the load I20 and the projecting margin I26 of the pallet I24. It will be appreciated that the packages I20 might be secured together. by straps or ropes, or by the application of adhesives between the surfaces of the various boxes and that in such secured together condition a projecting flap, ear; or-other traction member might be secured to theload l22 without the use of a pallet. The approaching load engaging mechanism 39 has the clamping jaw 32 open by reason of the fact that the operator of the truck has caused theactuation of piston 32 of. hydraulic cylinder 34 downwardly and has therefore caused clockwise rotation of the crank arms 36 and 28. Such movement of the actuating crank arms 28 has caused the rods 38 to move to the left, as viewed in Figure 8, and has re-. sulted in the cranking of bell cranks so in a clockwise direction to thereby raise jaw 82- by reason of the connecting'rods I6.

Since the backing frame 45 has itsifront face slightly in advance of; or flush with, the front edges of the jaws 82 and 8%, said frame 46 will ingsth'e load I29- on to the platen-20 of the load supporting carriage I'll; Themo'vement of each 8 rod 38 to the right,'as viewedin Figure 9; cause its bell crank 60 to rotate in a counter.-

clockwise direction whereby connectingrod 16' steadies the unit loadlZo as .it'is being drawn" along on the pallet I24.

Referring now to Figure 10, the load. I20 will be seen drawn partially on to the platen 20 andthe telescoping channel member 42 will be seen' as partially telescoped within the supporting channel member 44. Ultimately, the channel member 42 and rod 49 will be completel telescoped 'within the channel member 44', as may be seen in Figure 11. Figure 11 shows the unitv load of packages I25) fully positioned upon the platen 2t and in position to be transported by the industrial truck It to any location desired. Normally, the load supporting carriage I8 and a plat-'- en 29 will be suitably elevated above the floor before the industrial truck is movedfrom'the position in which it was loaded. In Figure 11 theclamping device 56 is shown in its open position. Normally, during transfer of the load by the truck Ii] to its destination, the clamping device 56 will be closed. Figure 11, therefore, may also represent the first step in the discharge of load I 29 from the platen 20. In such first step the operator actuates the controls to cause the piston rod 32 to move downwardly into piston 34 and thereby to rotate the crank arms 39 and 28 clockwise. Such rotation of arms 32 and 28 actuates rod 32 and moves it toward the left, as viewed in Figure 11. As described earlier, such movement will cause the bell crank 60 to move in a clockwise direction and will thereb raise the connecting rod 76 and the clamping jaw 82 connected therewith. Subsequent movement of the piston 32 in a downward direction will cause rod 38 to move still farther to the left and the vertical backing frame 46 will then serve as a pushing mechanism, guided by the telescoping members 48, 42 and M, to push the load, together with its pallet I24, to the left and off of the edge of the platen 20. I I20 from off the edge of the platen is would discharge said load from the truck IE, it is a crude method of unloading and the normal operation will consist of positioning the platen 20 directly over the receiving area and then simultaneously withdrawing platen 28 from beneath the load I29 and pallet I24 while the load engaging mechanism 39 moves forwardly across the platen.

This operation will causethe pallet and load to the load will cause the load to draw the pallet with it, since the co-efiicient of friction between the'load and the upper surface of the pallet is considerably greater than the coefiicient of trio tion between the lower side of the pallet and the smooth surface of the platen.

Assuming now that the operator of the truck I0 desires to untieraunit load I20 fromastack' Although pushing of the load- 9. of unit loads, represented in Figure 12 by the'reference numeral I26, the truck Ill will be brought up to the front of the stack I26 and the platen will be elevated to a position slightly below the extending margin or flap I28 of the pallet I24 on which the desired load I20 rests. This action serves first to steady the load I 20' which rests beneath the desired load I20, and also positions the platen 20, so that the load I20 may be easily drawn on to said platen without disturbing its individual packages I22. The platen 20 having been so located, the operator of the trucklfl causes the pistons 32 to be actuated by cylinders 34 in such a fashion that the pistons are drawn into the cylinders and thereby rotate the crank arms and 28 in a clockwise direction. "This action causes rods 38 initially to open the clamping jaws 82 and 86, and then to press the load engaging mechanism 39 to the left, as viewed in Figure 12, until it comes against the side of the desired load I20. With the vertically extending frame 46 steadying the load and with the margin I26 of pallet I24 positioned between the clamping jaws 82 and 8B, the operator will then manipulate the hydraulic controls to cause the cylinders 34 to move the piston rods 32 upwardly from said pistons and thereby to cause the crank arms 30 and 28 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. This will cause rods 38 to be drawn to the right, as'viewed in Figure 12, and to thereb actuate the bell cranks 60in a counter-clockwise direction and cause the connecting rods T8 'to press the movable jaw 82 against the margin Hit and into engagement with the jaw 86. Continued movement of rods 38 to the right will then retract the load engaging mechanism 38 and the loaded pallet I 24 will then be pulled by the clamping device 56 from off the top of the stack I26 on to the platen 20 of load supporting carriage I8. The load engaging mechanism 39 is guided backwardly by the telescoping members 40, 42 and 44 and, when they are fully retracted, the load I20 will be completely positioned upon the platen 20 with the pallet I24 beneath the load. The truck It may then transport load I20 in its elevated position, or may lower the load supporting carriage I8 which is carried on the uprights It at the forward end of truck II). The load I20 may be deposited upon a desired receiving area by first aligning the platen 20 vertically with said area and by then withdrawing the platen 20 from beneath the load while pushing the load and pallet off of the platen, so as to permit the load and pallet to gravitate on to the receiving area, in the manner described above.

When the pallet I24 does not have a margin or car upwardly turned during its manufacture, such bending may take place when the pallet and a load is initially picked up by the industrial truck. This bending occurs as the lower jaw 86 slides along the surface on which the pallet rests and moves under the extending margin of the pallet. After such a margin has once been bent upwardly and gripped, it continues in such upwardly turned fashion, so that it is readily gripped thereafter by the clamping device 56 of the load engaging mechanism 39.

In the modified load engaging mechanism illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the traction portion of the load, which normally comprises the extending flap or margin I26 of the pallet I24, is gripped in the same fashion, except that the pressure of the jaws 82 and 86 is controlled by the loading of the spring 8|, instead of by direct pressure of non-resilient connecting elements.

Because of the compactness and 'sirnplicitynf the load engaging means and its actuating mechto use such lift forks for their present type of operation. It will be seen that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure illustrated and described above without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim a 1. In combination, a horizontally disposed load supporting member, means for transporting the load supporting member, load engaging means including a clamping device disposed horizontally above said supporting member and actuating means for operating the clamping device and for moving the load engaging means horizontally across the supporting member, said actuating means having a lost motion connection with the load engaging means and having a positive connection with said clamping device whereby movement of the actuating member in one direction serves first to open the clamping device and then to move the load engaging means and movement of the actuating member in the opposite direction is adapted first to close said clamping device and then to move the load engaging means in said opposite direction. I 0

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the clamping device is closed by a compression spring in series in the connection between the clamping member and the actuating means.

3. In combination, a horizontally disposed load supporting member, means for transporting the load supporting member, load engaging means including a clamping device disposed laterally across said supporting member, said clamping device comprising a pair of gripping jaws one of which has a resilient gripping surface, and means for moving the load engaging means horizontally across the supporting member and for operating its clamping device.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the gripping jaws have interdenting members and movement of the actuating means first actuates the jaws and then moves the load engaging means across the supporting member.

5. In combination, a supporting carriage having a horizontally disposed load supporting platen, means for transporting and elevating said carriage and its platen, a load engaging mechanism supported by said carriage and including .means for engaging a traction portion of a load to draw it onto the supporting platen and a backing portion adapted to steady a load and to discharge it from the supporting platen when the load engaging means is moved forwardly relative to the platen, actuating mechanism for moving the load engaging means across the platen, said actuating mechanism having a lost motion connection with the load engaging means and having a direct connection with cranking means carried by the load engaging mechanism for operating said engaging means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the means for engaging a traction portion of a load comprises spaced apart jaws one of which is operated by said cranking means.

7. In. combination, a supporting carriage having a horizontally disposed load supporting platen,

' means for transporting and vertically moving said "carriage, loadengaging means, actuating mechanism,-for moving the load engaging means forwardly and backwardly, relative to the load supporting platen, said load engaging means including a clamping device disposedhorizontally above the supporting member and a backing portion extending vertically above the clamping device, said actuating mechanism having a connection with the clamping device for operating the same by means of a bell crank pivoted 0n the backing ,portion of the load engaging means whereby movement of the actuating mechanism first operates the clamping device to its open or closed position, depending on the direction of movement of the'actuating mechanism, and then exerts force against the load engaging means to .move it across the load supporting platen.

:8. The combination of claim '7 wherein the load engaging means is movable on telescoping arms supported from the carriage and friction pulling theframe on said mounting relative to 90 the carriage, a stationary jaw carried by said frame, a movable jaw movably mounted on said a brake'to provide limited resistance to movement of the frame relative to the carriage.

GEORGE L. TURNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 1,451,879 Lacke Apr. 17, 1923 r 1,587,855 Redding June 8, 1926 1,640,691 Clark "Aug. 30, 1927 1,826,489 Abbe Oct. 6, 1931 1,896,543 Gfrorer Feb. '7, 1933 1,924,885 'Schreck u Aug. 29, 1933 2,122,992 Pride Juiy 5, 1938 2,256,454 Bomar Sept. 16, 1941 2,328,397 Neuman Aug. 31, 1943 2,412,155 Jessen Dec. 3, 1946 2,418,661 Palm f Apr, 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date France Oct, 13, 1933 

